The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) released an update Friday on vaping-related lung injury (EVALI) that deleted language from earlier updates recommending that people refrain from all use of e-cigarette or vaping products.
The last update from the CDC on the vaping crisis in late December said that although vitamin E acetate appears to be associated with EVALI, there could be more causes, and therefore "the best way for people to ensure that they are not at risk while the investigation continues is to consider refraining from the use of all e-cigarette, or vaping, products." That recommendation was omitted from today's press release. The CDC continues to warn against use by youths, young adults, and pregnant women.
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The softening of the CDC's position as studies zero in on vitamin E acetate as the likely culprit could improve the outlook for Altria (MO 0.06%) and Philip Morris (PM 0.38%), companies that have invested heavily in vaporizers and e-cigarettes.
The marijuana industry isn't off the hook, though. 82% of EVALI patients report using products containing of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continue to recommend that people not use THC-containing vaporizers or e-cigarettes, saying that abstaining from those products is "the best way to avoid potentially harmful effects" from THC use.
